I Battle Depression
I deal with depression . It's no secret. I have written about it several times. I am not ashamed but I still don't feel right about telling everyone. The problem is, even in the day and age, people still misunderstand mental illness. In fact, many people refuse to learn about it or even try to understand. They either believe it's all in your head, or you were just born that way, or you're a whiner. None of that is true. I can say truthfully that it is not all in my head. I have several doctors that have confirmed it. It's organic. I have a chemical imbalance. I wasn't born this way either. Although depression does run in my family, I believe, I didn't pop out of my mother womb depressed. It took time and years and circumstances to develop. Was I destined to have depression? No just a bit more likely that the average person to have it. The circumstances of my life, stress and a series of complicated events and losses tipped the scales. I am not a whiner either. If you met me in person, you would never know I deal with depression. Most people never guess and are shocked when they find out. That's because I work on myself every day. I get out of bed and look for the positive. I have days that are troublesome, yes, and some are very trying, but I get through them eventually and my sunny personality comes back.
So why am I writing this? Well, I still don't understand why people think medication is wrong. It saved my life! If not for starting on anti depressants years ago, 16 to be exact, I surely would have killed myself by now. The medication raised my serotonin levels enough to change my outlook. Yet too many people are adamantly opposed to drugs meant to help. Not every drug works for everyone yet with trial and error you can find one that works. That's what psychiatrists are for. They are the experts in medications, not your family doctor. Yet I see so many people, many young people who are against doctors and drugs when they don't know what they are talking about. And the worst part is, others listen.
I wish people would stop being so afraid of treatment and stop mouthing off about medication. So many people like me have had their lives saved by them. Depression IS an illness but it IS treatable, yet so many scoff at it and do more harm than they know. Why not listen to the professionals? One bad doctor and they are all damned by many. That's like saying one teacher is bad so they all are. You can't judge an entire profession by one. Sure there are doctors that don't listen, so find another. Your health is in your hands.
So why do so many still hold onto outdated opinions about mental illness? It's not something anyone wants. It happens. It is treatable, so treat it. Nothing is free in life, You have to work at everything. Your happiness is one of them.
So why am I writing this? Well, I still don't understand why people think medication is wrong. It saved my life! If not for starting on anti depressants years ago, 16 to be exact, I surely would have killed myself by now. The medication raised my serotonin levels enough to change my outlook. Yet too many people are adamantly opposed to drugs meant to help. Not every drug works for everyone yet with trial and error you can find one that works. That's what psychiatrists are for. They are the experts in medications, not your family doctor. Yet I see so many people, many young people who are against doctors and drugs when they don't know what they are talking about. And the worst part is, others listen.
I wish people would stop being so afraid of treatment and stop mouthing off about medication. So many people like me have had their lives saved by them. Depression IS an illness but it IS treatable, yet so many scoff at it and do more harm than they know. Why not listen to the professionals? One bad doctor and they are all damned by many. That's like saying one teacher is bad so they all are. You can't judge an entire profession by one. Sure there are doctors that don't listen, so find another. Your health is in your hands.
So why do so many still hold onto outdated opinions about mental illness? It's not something anyone wants. It happens. It is treatable, so treat it. Nothing is free in life, You have to work at everything. Your happiness is one of them.
By:
KittenHasaWhip
Age:
46-50
,
Female
